Polishing machine comprising sliding means transverse to the front face

Abstract

A polishing machine for optical elements, comprising: a spindle arranged to rotationally drive an optical element; a polishing tool mobile relative to the spindle; a front face provided with a door enabling the access to the spindle and to the polishing tool; wherein the polishing tool is mounted on a body which is rotationally mounted on sliding means by way of a first axis, the sliding means being substantially perpendicular to the front face.

1. A polishing machine for optical elements, comprising:
 a spindle arranged to rotationally drive an optical element; 
 a polishing tool mobile relative to the spindle; and 
 a front face provided with a door enabling the access to the spindle and to the polishing tool, 
 wherein the polishing tool is mounted on a first jack which is rotationally mounted on sliding means by way of a first axis, the sliding means having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the front face, and 
 wherein the first axis is a pivot axis that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sliding means and generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said spindle and wherein the first jack pivotally rotates about the pivot axis. 
 
   
   
     2. The polishing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first jack is provided with a first and a second outer end, the first axis being located at least at a distance of one quarter of the first jack's length from the first outer end, and the first axis being located at least at a distance of one quarter of the first jack's length from the second outer end. 
   
   
     3. The polishing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the first jack is arranged to rotate up to 15° around the pivot axis. 
   
   
     4. The polishing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the first jack is rotatable between a first position in which the first jack is parallel to the spindle and a second position reached after a rotation of 15° of the first jack around the pivot axis. 
   
   
     5. The polishing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first axis is located substantially in the middle with respect to the first jack's length. 
   
   
     6. The polishing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the polishing machine further comprises a second jack arranged to rotationally drive the first jack. 
   
   
     7. The polishing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical element is an ophthalmic lens. 
   
   
     8. The polishing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the polishing machine further comprises a second spindle arranged to cooperate with a second polishing tool mounted on a further jack, the two spindles being placed side by side relative to the front face. 
   
   
     9. The polishing machine according to  claim 8  wherein the two sliding means are arranged to slide simultaneously. 
   
   
     10. The polishing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the first jack and the further jack are arranged to rotate simultaneously. 
   
   
     11. The polishing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the spindle is rotationally driven by a motor located at the same level than the spindle. 
   
   
     12. The polishing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the motor is located behind the spindle relative to the front face. 
   
   
     13. The polishing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the motor and the spindle are mounted on a same platform. 
   
   
     14. The polishing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the motor rotationally drives the spindle by way of a belt. 
   
   
     15. A polishing machine for optical elements, comprising:
 a spindle arranged to rotationally drive an optical element; 
 a polishing tool mobile relative to the spindle; and 
 a front face provided with a door enabling the access to the spindle and to the polishing tool, 
 wherein the polishing tool is mounted on a first jack which is rotationally mounted on sliding means by way of a first axis, the sliding means being substantially perpendicular to the front face, and 
 wherein the sliding means are insulated from the spindle and the polishing tool by means of a dome attached to the first jack and a lip seal closing onto the dome. 
 
   
   
     16. The polishing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the sliding means are insulated from the spindle and the polishing tool by means of bellows attached to the first jack. 
   
   
     17. The polishing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the sliding means are mounted on a rail which is protected by bellows attached to the sliding means. 
   
   
     18. A polishing machine for optical elements, comprising:
 a spindle arranged to rotationally drive an optical element; 
 a polishing tool mobile relative to the spindle; and 
 a front face provided with a door enabling the access to the spindle and to the polishing tool, 
 wherein the polishing tool is mounted on a first jack which is rotationally mounted on sliding means by way of a first axis, the sliding means having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the front face, and 
 wherein the door is rotationally mounted on an arm. 
 
   
   
     19. The polishing machine according to  claim 18 , wherein the arm is rotationally mounted relative to the front face by way of a second axis. 
   
   
     20. The polishing machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the arm is rotationally driven around the second axis by a further jack.